Rack or stand for bicycles



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H. WBSTPHL.

RAK 0R STAND PUR BIGYGLBS.

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S.. E L w Lw.. AB .Hm Jr D EN Wm s Hm. K HU A R d d o M 0 m No. 565,058.v135,55111-,m1 Aug. 4,1595.

L www' H. lWBSTPHAL. RACK 0R STAND POR BIGYGLES.

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No. 565,058. Patented Aug 4, 1896.

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H. WESTPHAL.

` RAGE DE STAND PDR BICY'GLES.

Patented Aug. 4, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT HENRY NVESTPIIAL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RACK OR STAND FOR BICYCLES.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,058, dated August4, 1896. Applemaniedsepemterifi,1395. seriniiotaztoe. mammie.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY WEST-Penn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Racks or Stands forBicycles, of which the following is a specicatio'n.

rihis invention relates to improvements in racks or stands to be usedfor supporting and locking bicycles in an upright position; and itconsists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novelarrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will behereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a rack for bicyclesin which the wheel shall be automatically locked and securely held in anupright position, and, second, such' a rack which is so constructed thatit may be placed on the floor or ground or may be secured to a wall orother suitable support, so as to retain the bicycle in a standing orupright posit-ion.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionpertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it,referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of my rack or stand as it appears when designed to beplaced on the floor or ground, showing the front wheel of a bicyclelocked therein. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional View of the upperportion of the rack, showing the operating mechanism thereof. Fig. 3 isa plan sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows. Fig. i is a rear vertical sectional view of thefront part of the upper portion of the casing or frame. Fig. 5 is afront perspective view of a portion of the upper part of the casing.Fig. l is a view in side elevation of the lock which I prefer to use inmy rack with one of the plates of the casing removed, showing the keylocked in. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the position of the parts ofthe lock when the key is removed. Fig. S is a plan sectional view takenon line 8 S of Fig. Fig. 9 is a like view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7.Fig. 10 is a perspective view Awith one of the plates of the casing, thekey-guide, stay, and tumblers vremoved and showin g a portion of theoperating-bar in position to lift or operate the weighted cam of thelock. Fig. 11 is a 55 plan view of a portion of the top of the casing,showing the keyhole therein. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of theoperating-lever detached from the rack. Fig. 13 is a central sectionalview of the upper port-ion of the 6o rack or stand, showing a modicationin the construction of the operatingbar and securing device for thewheel. Fig. 1i is a plan sectional view taken on line 14 1i of Fig. 13.Fig. 15 is avertical sectional view of a part of 65 the rear portion ofthe casing or frame, taken on line 15 15 of Fig. 13, showing the changein the shape of the operating-bar when de signed to operate the securingdevice, such as is shown in Fig. 1i. Fig. 16 is a central ver- 7o ticalsectional view of the upper part of the rack or stand, showing amodification in which the sliding bar is omitted and another form ofsecuring device for the wheel is employed. Fig. 17 is a plan sectionalview taken 7 5 on line 17 17 of Fig. 1G. Fig. 1S is a plan sectionalview taken through that portion of the stand in which the securingdevice for the wheel is located and shoun g still another modiiicationin the construction and opera- So tion of said device. Fig. 19 is acentral vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the rack orstand, showing still another modiication in the manner of operating thesecuring devices for the wheel. Fig. 20 is a detail S5 perspective viewof the operating-lever employed in said modification; and Fig. 21 is arear vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the casing orframe, illustrating the mechanism employed in the last-named modi- 9ocation.

In my application tor Letters Patent for improvement in bicycle-racksfiled the 9th day ci September, i395, Serial No. 561,391, Ihave shownand claimed a rack in which the oper- 95 ating-bar and securing-latchesfor the wheel are raised by the weight of the wheel, said operating-barbeing liberated so as to allow it to be raised by the forward pressureof the wheel. In the present application the securing dezoo vice for thewheel is placed in engagement therewith by the forward pressure of thewheel, and said securing device is retained in engagement with the wheelby means ci' a lock. The locking mechanism which I prefer to use isfully described and claimed in Letters Patent No. 532,506, issued to meon the 15th day of January, A. D. 1895, and is also fully shown anddescribed in the abovenamed application, to wit: Serial No. 561,894.

I In the present application l have shown a stand or rack which isremovable or designed to be placed on the ground or floor, but it isapparent that the same may be secured to a wall or other support at asuitable height to receive the wheel, when the lower portion of theframework may be dispensed with.

Like letters refer to corresponding parts throughout the different viewsof the drawings.

A represents the side pieces of the main or supporting frame, andarepreferably made semicircular in form, as shown in Fig. l of thedrawings, so as to encircle about one-half of the felly of the wheel.These pieces are secured parallel with one another and a slight distanceapart, as shown in Fig. 3, to admit of the insertion therebetween of oneof the wheels A of the bicycle. When designed for a movable stand, asshown in Figs. l and 3, they are provided with front and rear base,pieces a and a', respectively, but if to be secured to a wall or supportsaid pieces and the part below the securing device for the wheel may beomitted. At and to the rear of the side pieces A, and forming a part ofthe frame or rack, is a casing B for the operating mechanism, the rearsurface of the front plate b thereof being provided with lugs b, whichact as guides for the sliding bar C, which bar is movably held betweensaid lugs by means of the rear plate b2 of the casing, which may beprovided with inwardly-extending lugs b3. The lower portion of thesliding bar C is provided with catches c to engage arms d on thesecuring devices or latches D, which latches have their bearingsl fortheir inner ends in the casin g B, and extend in parallelism forwardly.The front portions of the securing devices D are provided with arms d',which normally depend within the boxes a2, in which the front ends ofsaid latches have their bearings. These boxes are made withoutperforations and are for the purpose of protecting the latches. Theupper end of the sliding bar C is provided with pins or projections cand c2, the former of which is adapted to engage the operating-lever Eand the latter a locking mechanism which is located in the enlargementor box B of the casing or frame, and lthe construction and operation ofwhich will be presently explained. The pin c extends forwardly throughan opening b4 in the face of the casing, and the pin c2 extendsrearwardly, as is clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Around the opening b4 in the front of the box B may be placed a coverb5, with one of its sides removed for the reception and operation of thelaterally-extending finger or projection e on the operating-lever E,which lever is fulcrumed at a suitable point to orne of the side piecesA of the main frame, and has a downwardly-extended portion E', the 7ofree end of which is located near the securing devices D and a shortdistance from the face-plate of the casing. The finger e of theoperating-lever engages the pin c/ on the sliding bar C and lifts thesame when the wheel 7 5 of the bicycle is pressed against the end of theportion E of the operating-lever, as will be hereinafter more fullyexplained.

The top of the boxB/ is provided with an opening 9G for the insertion ofthe key T to the 8o locking mechanism located within said box.

On the upper surface of the box B is a cover F, which is pivotallysecured to the box by means of a pivot-pin f to allow said cover to beraised or lowered over the keyhole h6 and 8 5 to protect the key fromremoval when the same is locked therein. The pivot-ed portion of thecover F is formed with a rigid arm f', which extends into the box B andengages a weighted dog f2, which is pivoted to the rear 9o surface ofthe face-plate of the casing and normally engages, as shown in Fig. 4cof the drawings, the arm f on the cover F, and thus prevents said coverbeing raised, except when it is desired to remove the key, which may bedone by raising the bar G to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig.Qlof the drawings, when the weighted lever will be disengaged from thearm f and the cover F be free to be lifted to allow the removal of Icothe key to the locking mechanism within the casing, which lock consistsof two plates t' i',

the plate t' being formed with a vertical slot Z near its middle, whichextends through the bottom of the casing, as shown, and having on itsinner surface close to each of its ends the ribs m m', both of which areformed with openings or recesses m2 m3, in which the sliding bolts M Moperate, and are thereby guided in'their backward and forward move- 11oments. The opening or recess 'm2 is formed near the lower portion of therib fm, and the opening or recess m3 near the upper end of the rib 'm'.Near their upper portions, and

on their surfaces adjacent to the plate 1'., each i i 5 of the ribs mand 'm' are formed with recesses or mortises m4 for the reception andoperation of the spring actuated tumblers N, which are formed withrecesses nn,the former of which engages with the stay O and the 12olatter with the sliding rib or bead N on the'vvv piece N2, which unitesthe sliding bolts M and M', and is preferably formed in cross-section,

as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, with two projections N and N4 at its edgeslextending in 125 opposite directions, the flat piece N2 being providednear its lower portion with a vertical slot N3, in which fits andoperates a pin or lug p on the bifurcated cam P, which cain is pivotallysecured to the plate i at a suit- 13o able point near the outer portionof the slot Z therein, as shown at Z. This cam is made,

as clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 10, with two prongs r r', which forman open slot 0r fork r2, into which will engage the lug or lpin c2 onthe bar c.

As shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the tumblers N are pivot-ally secured, asat o', on the rod 02, having its bearings in the top and bottom of thecasing near the farther end from the key-guide, and are provided withsprings o?, which are interposed between the tumblers and the plate fi',and that they will be thus forced forward to engage with the bead or ribN on the sliding piece N2.

Nea-r the rib m the casing is provided in its top and bottom withsuitable circular openings cr., through which is passed a split tube orkey-guide S, which has its bearings for its lower end in the dependingbracket S on thebottom ot the lock-casing.v The lower end of thekey-guide S is provided with a spring s2, which serves to revolve thekeyguide till the split therein through which the projections t `on thekey T passes to engage with the tumblers into alinement with theopenings a3 therefor in the top of the casing, and is prevented fromturning the guide too tar by means of the lug or pin s4, securedthereto, which is so placed that it will strike the bracket S, whichacts as a check.

The stay O, which is provided with a number of recesses o5 to correspondwith the num# ber of projections t on the key T, is rigidly secured in avertical position, and longitudinally with the lock-casing, between thebead N and the key-guide, and between the tumblers and the pieceNg. Thisstay is employed to regulate the combination of the lock, for it isobvious that the projections# on the key must correspond in. number anddimensions with the recesses in the stay. Otherwise they would not passthrough the same.

It is evident that the Aprojection c2 on the bar C will extend into theslot Z of the plate il of the lock and will engage with the open slot r2or fork between the prongs r and r' on the cam P, when the upwardmovement of the operating bar C, provided, as before stated, with theprojection c2, engaging with the' prongs r andfr', will cause the cam Pto be raised to the position indicated in Fig. 7, the movement ofwhiehcam, by means of its pin p, operating in the slot N3 ofthe plate N2,will cause the sliding bolts M M and the bead N', which are connected tothe plate Ni or made integral therewith, to be retracted to the positionshown in Fig. 7, which operation removes the plate N2 from interferencewith the projections on the shank of the key, and thus permits thekey-guide S to be partially revolved by means of the spring s2 till theprojections of the key are in alinement with the opening ab in the topof the casing, when, and not before, the key may be withdrawn, and theoperating-bar C will be securely locked in said position by reason ofthe engagement ofthe tumbler N with the bead N. In order to release orunlock the operating-lever E or bar C, it will be necessary to replacethe key in the key-guide,

when by turning the same its projections will engage the tumblers andwill free theinfrom engagement with the bead N', when, by reason of theweight of the bar C and cam P, they will be lowered, as shown in Fig. 6,which operation will interpose the plate N2 between the projections onthe key-shank and the opening a3 in the top of the casing, and preventthe key being removed.

In Figs. 13 to 15, inclusive, I have shown a Vmodiication in theconstruction, arrangement, and operation of the securing device for thewheel, which consists in pivotally securing on the rack-traine, near thecasing thereof, a curved piece G, which may normally lie within acircular box or receptacle a4 in one of the side pieces of the mainframe, as shown in Fig. 14. The secured portion of the piece G is formedor provided with two arms g and g', the former of which extends betweenthe side pieces of the frame and some distance in front of the casing,while the latter passes through an opening in the front plate h, intothe casing B, and has secured to its end a spring g2, which is fastenedat its other end to the casing and retracts the piece G to'the positionshown by continuous lines in Fig. 14.-. When using the curved piece G asa securing device for the wheel, the same construction is employed asabove set forth, with the exception that the sliding bar C is formedwith an enlarged beveled portion C', which contacts in its upwardmovement with the arm g and holds the piece G in the positionindicatedby dotted lines in said gure, when it will encircle the felly and firmlyhold it in position.

In Figs. 16 and 17 is illustrated another modification in theconstruction and operation of the securing device for the wheel, whichconsists in pivotally securing to the side pieces A ofthe main orsupporting frame two rectangular pieces H, the rear arms h of whichnormally lie crosswise of the' opening between the side pieces, and areheld in such position by means of springs h,which are secured at one oftheir ends to the side pieces A and contact at their other ends withsaid arms.

In Fig. 18 is illustrated still another modiiication in the formandoperation of the secu ring device for the wheel, which I maysometimes employ, and consists of a piece HQ substantially U-shaped,having in its outer end an opening h2 for the reception of a chain orother fastening device. The other end of the piece H is bent to form anarm h3, which extends in between the piecesl A and is normally held inthe position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 18, by means of a springh4, secured to one ot' the side pieces, but usually to that one to whichthe piece H is pivoted.

In using either of the securing devices illustrated in Fig. 17 and 18,the sliding bar employed in the other above-described constructions isdispensed with and a pin or fin- IOO IIO

ger e on the operating-leverE engages with` the cam of the lock, insteadof the pin c2, as before.

By reference to Figs. 16 to 18, inclusive, it will be seen and readilyunderstood that the extended portion E of the operating-lever depends infront of the arms 7i or h3 of the securing-pieces, and when pressed bythe forward movement of the wheel will force said arms to the positionindicated by dotted lines, thus securing the wheel between the sidepieces.

Figs. 19 to 21, inclusive, illustrate another modication, which consistsmainly in the operating-lever, which, instead of being constructed asshown in Fig. 12, is made in the form of a bell-crank having an arm E2,provided with a iinger e3, which passes through an opening c7 in theupper end of the sliding bar C, and also engages the cam of the lock, sothat said cam and bar may be raised when the wheel is pressed againstthe deiiected arm E3 of the operating-lever used in this construction,which is fulcrumed, as at e5, on the main frame. W'hen this modificationis employed, the revolving latches D, engaging with the lower end of thesliding bar, are employed in a like manner, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4L,inclusive.

From the foregoing, and by reference to the drawings, it will be seenand clearly understood that in either of the constructions in which thesliding bar is employed the securing devices for the wheel will beplaced around the same by the forward pressure thereof against thedepending arm of the operating-lever, which operating-lever is thuscaused to lift the sliding bar, thereby raising the cam P of the lock tothe position shown in Fig. 7, and at the same time throwing the securingdevices for the wheel around the felly, in which position the parts willbe securely locked. NVhen using the securing devices for the wheelillustrated in Figs. 16 to 18, it is obvious that as the extendedportion E of the operating-lever is pressed rearwardly by the wheel itwill force the arms 71, or h3 backward, thus throwing the front portionof the devices crosswise the space between the side pieces, in whichposition they will be held by reason of the operating-lever, whichengages through its iinger e with the cam P of the lock, which will belifted to the position shown in Fig. 7 and there firmly locked.

Vhile I have shown the rack constructed with a pair of latches D forsecuring the wheel in position, yet I may sometimes omit one of saidlatches and form the sliding bar O with a catch on one side only, toengage the inner arm d and make the outer arms cl somewhat longer, so asto extend crosswise of the space between the side pieces of the frame.

By reference to the different views of the drawings it will be seen thatthe supporting or side pieces A of the frame are curvilinear in form andreach to about the top of the periphery of the wheel, and that said sidepieces are of sufficient width to inclose or envelop the felly and tireonly; that is, they do not extend far enough to contact with the spokes,th us avoiding any injury to the same.

By extending the side pieces to the top of the wheel, I obtain a muchbetter support, for the reason that the wheel is more easily supportedwhen engaged at its top than at its side portion.

While I prefer to make the side pieces semicircular and of about theaforesaid dimensions, that is, to envelop the felly and tire only, yet Imay make them of any desired form and size, but preferably to engage thewheel at about its top.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention. what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a rack or stand, with a securing device for thewheel, and a locking mechanism, both located in the stand, and aconnection uniting the locking mechanism and securing device adapted toplace and fasten the latter in engagement with. the wheel by thepressure thereof, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a rack or stand having two parallel side piecesfor the support of the wheel, of a pivotal securing device thereon, alocking mechanism 'on the rack. and a connection uniting the same andsaid Securing device, and adapted to place it crosswise of the spacebetween the side pieces, by the pressure of the wheel, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination with a rack or stand, of a revoluble securing devicethereon for the wheel, a locking mechanism, a sliding bar uniting thesame and said device, and a lever fulcrumed in the rack and engaging thebar. and adapted to raise the same and revolve the securing device bythe pressure of the wheel, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a rack or stand, having two parallel side piecesfor the support of the wheel, of a revoluble securing device, a lockingmechanism, a sliding bar uniting the lock and securing device, and alever engaging the bar and adapted to raise the same and turn thesecuring device cross- 'wise of the space between the side pieces, bythe pressure of the wheel, substantially as described.V

5. The combination with a rack or stand, having a casing for theoperating mechanism, and an opening in the top of said casing for theinsertion of the key to the lock, a cover hinged on the casing over saidopening and having an arm extending into the casin g, a pivoted dog toengage said arm, a securing device for the wheel, a locking mechanism inthe casing, a sliding bar uniting the lock and securing device andadapted to engage the dog and lift the same, and a lever fulcrumed onthe rack and engaging the sliding bar and adapted to raise the same, allconstructed.

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arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a rac-k or stand having two parallel side piecesfor the support of the Wheel, of a pair of revcluble latches to securethe Wheel, a locking mechanisni on the rack, a sliding,` bar engaging atcneof its ends the latches/,and at its other end the lock andoperatingdever, and said lever fulcrumed in the rack and adapted toraise the sliding bar and revolve the latches by the forward pressure ofthe Wheel, substantially as described.

7. In a bicycle rack or stand the combination of a supporting-frame forthe Wheel, with a revoluble securing device thereon, consistin g of theparallel pieces D, provided With the arms or projections d, and d', alocking mechanisni in the frame, the sliding bar C, having at its lowerportion the catches c, to engage the arms d, and engaging at its upperpart with the lock and operatingdever, and said lever fulcrumed in theframe and adapted to raise the bar and revolve the pieces by thepressure of J[he wheel, substantially as described.

8. The combinationof the casing B', with the covering F, having the armf', projecting into the casing, the dogfz, pivoted on the casing andadapted to engage said arm, the sliding bar C, and a mechanism to raisethe same and cause it to lift the dog, substantially as described.

9. The combination With a rack or stand, of a pair ci' revoluble latchesadapted to engage the Wheel of a bicycle, a locking mechanism located inthe rack, a sliding bar connecting,` the lock and latches, and means forraising said bar and revolving,` the latches by the pressure of theWheel, substantially as described.

A HENRY WESTPl-IAL.

Vifitnesses:

(Emis. C. TILLMAN, E. A. DUGGAN.

